President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has declared that while Jumhooree Party (JP) of the opposition coalition wants to annul the constitutional amendment to the presidential eligibility criteria which barres candidates over 65 years of age from contesting for presidency, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) does not see eye to eye on the policies at hand.
In his first campaign trip at Nilandhoo, Faafu Atoll, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s presidential candidate questioned JP why they wanted to annul the presidential criteria law and the foreign landownership bill when the legislation was initially passed with the vote and support of opposition coalition members.
“MDP will not agree to this. MDP is aware that should they change the presidential candidacy eligibility to over 65, then JP will want a candidate of their own to contest in the elections”, said Yameen, indirectly referring to JP's founder Qasim Ibrahim.
The president further added that repealing the presidential criteria law would be a great danger if the MDP candidate were to rise to power.
President Yameen also stated that the only reason that the opposition parties have banded together is in hopes of their indicted leaders attaining freedom, reasoning that the current government is indifferent to any particular individual and implements the rule of law accordingly.
Sign In